Cancer and Comedy: Helping Cancer Impacted People to Cope with Hope and Humor

Dr. Brad Miller welcomed humorist Alan Klein to the Cancer and Comedy podcast, focusing their conversation on the transformative power of humor in difficult times. Klein shared stories from his career and personal life, including influences from his parents and his experience working on children’s television. The discussion highlighted how small acts of humor, such as handing out dad-joke cards or...

Deb Krier and Dr. Brad Miller ring in the New Year on this special episode of "Cancer and Comedy," where their mission is to heal cancer-impacted people through hope and humor—turning the grim into a grin. Together, Deb and Dr. Brad explore “Planning in Pencil: A Cancer Patient’s Guide to the New Year,” offering uplifting advice for adapting to life’s unpredictability, especially for those coping...

Pastor, author, and Marriage Monday podcast host David Barringer joins Dr. Brad Miller for a meaningful episode of the Cancer and Comedy podcast, a show committed to helping people facing cancer and other life challenges cope with hope and humor.  David is the lead pastor of Kalamazoo First Assembly of God and the author of Speaking From the Shadows, where he shares his own battle with depres...

Mallori DeSalle is a licensed mental health counselor, certified humor professional, professor at Indiana University’s School of Public Health, and a trainer of motivational interviewing. She is also an Oreo connoisseur who has tasted more than 150 flavors from around the world — and a recent breast cancer patient who uses humor as her most powerful coping tool.  In this episode, Mallori shar...

Deb Krier joins Dr. Brad Miller on a special Thanksgiving-week episode of the Cancer and Comedy podcast, a show dedicated to helping cancer-impacted people cope with hope and humor.    Deb is the co-host of Cancer and Comedy and the creator of the Surviving Not Dying community, where she supports patients and caregivers with honest conversations, practical encouragement, and laughter dur...

Deb Krier joins Dr. Brad Miller on this episode of “Cancer and Comedy,” where the mission is to heal cancer-impacted people through hope and humor — turning the grim into a grin.  Deb is a longtime dog lover, national beagle show leader, and board member of the National Beagle Club of America. In this episode, Deb opens up about the profound role pets — especially dogs — play in helping peopl...

Deb Krier joins Dr. Brad Miller on this episode of The Cancer and Comedy Podcast.   Deb, the co-host of the show, leads a heartfelt and grounding conversation about navigating loneliness during the cancer journey — especially for those who are going through treatment without a built-in support system or close circle of caregivers.  In this episode, Dr. Brad and Deb reflect on how deeply...

Debbie Miller joins Dr. Brad Miller on this episode of The Cancer and Comedy Podcast.   Debbie, the wife of Dr. Brad, fills in for co-host Deb Krier to share a heartfelt and humorous conversation about coping with cancer through laughter, faith, and deep connection.  In this episode, Dr. Brad and Debbie reflect on their shared journey after Brad’s cancer diagnosis and how humor became a...

Dr. Brad Miller hosts Episode 105 of the Cancer and Comedy Podcast, a show dedicated to helping people impacted by adversity heal through hope and humor. Their mission is to guide listeners in “turning the grim into a grin,” showing how laughter, attitude, and community can transform even the most challenging moments in life.  In this episode, Dr. Brad welcomes humorist and keynote speaker Jo...

Cara Lockwood is the guest on Episode 103 of “Cancer and Comedy,” hosted by Dr. Brad Miller with co-host Deb Krier.  Cara Lockwood is a bestselling romance novelist whose work has been adapted into Lifetime movies. She helps people navigate the cancer journey by blending humor, joy, and practical insights to reclaim strength and perspective. Her approach empowers patients not only to endure t...

Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier host Episode 103 of the Cancer and Comedy Podcast, a show dedicated to helping cancer-impacted individuals heal through hope and humor. Their mission is to guide listeners in “turning the grim into a grin,” showing how laughter, faith, and community can transform even the most challenging moments in life.  In this episode, Deb Krier and Dr. Brad Miller explore ho...

Dr. Achim Zinggrebe is Dr. Brad Miller’s guest on Episode 102 of “Cancer and Comedy.”     Dr. Achim Zinggrebe is a medical doctor, author, and coach who helps people navigate the cancer journey by integrating mind, body, spirit, and energy into healing. His work empowers patients not only to endure treatment but to reclaim their identity, strength, and joy through gratitude, breathwork,...

Mark Light is Brad Miller’s guest on the Cancer and Comedy Podcast. [Text Wrapping Break]Mark is the author of Rock Bottom to Resilient: Transform Your Mind and Become Unshakable When the Crap Hits the Fan.   In this episode, Mark shared his powerful story of being diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in 2022, after already enduring years of life-threatening health battles, including pancre...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Cancer and Comedy, host Brad welcomes back Edward Miske—singer, actor, author, and founder of the Remission Film Festival. Edward shares his journey as a rare non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survivor, the inspiration behind his book "Cancer and Musical Theater and Other Chronic Illnesses," and his mission to create a space for post-cancer conversations through art. The d...

Russ Hedge is Dr. Brad Miller’s guest on this episode of “Cancer and Comedy.”  Russ is an inspirational speaker, author of Befuddled: Live the Life You Choose, and the host of “Marketing with Russ.” He’s also a cancer survivor whose journey through stage 4 melanoma reshaped his faith, perspective, and mission in life.  In this episode, Russ shares how a small wart on his foot turned into...

Nature has always been a place of peace, but what if it could also be part of a real treatment plan? In this episode of the Cancer and Comedy podcast, Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier share how time among the trees—whether in the mighty redwoods of California or a shady sycamore in the backyard—can play a surprising role in healing for people impacted by cancer.  Research shows that “forest bath...

In this episode of the "Cancer and Comedy" podcast, Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier talk about the bright side of diagnosis based on material from comedian Hank Green, where he talks about cancer, laughter, and leadership.    Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier discuss how Hank chose to approach his diagnosis by seeking the bright side and using his experiences as material for comedy.  &nbs...

When life gets heavy, sometimes what you need most is a red rubber nose. In this episode of the Cancer and Comedy podcast, Dr. Brad Miller sits down with Allen Klein, author, speaker, and self-proclaimed “Jollytologist,” to talk about how humor isn’t just a momentary relief—it’s a life-saving mindset.  Allen lost his wife to a rare liver disease, and what got them through the darkest days was...

When cancer struck, most people expected Eyal Eltawil to fall apart. Instead, he picked up a microphone. In this episode of the Cancer and Comedy podcast, Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier share the story of Eyal, an Israeli stand-up comedian who turned his stage IV cancer diagnosis into a full-on comedy special—and then a TED Talk. His motto? “When cancer strikes, comedy heals.”  Rather than hid...

FOMO—the fear of missing out—is something we all feel. But when you’re living with cancer, that fear can hit a whole new level. In this episode of the Cancer and Comedy podcast, Dr. Brad Miller and co-host Deb Krier talk about how to shift from that anxious, often exhausting mindset to something more peaceful and powerful: JOMO, the joy of missing out.  When cancer limits what you can do—trav...

Fear and loathing are natural responses to a cancer diagnosis—but what if they aren’t the final word? In this episode of the Cancer and Comedy podcast, Dr. Brad Miller and co-host Deb Krier tackle the emotional rollercoaster that begins with those two gut-punch words: “It’s cancer.” Instead of staying stuck in panic, dread, and overwhelm, they explore how humor, faith, and even a little sass can h...

Play isn’t just for kids—and it might be more powerful than we think. In this episode of the Cancer and Comedy podcast, Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier explore the surprising ways toys and play can help cancer-impacted people cope with stress, anxiety, and the emotional weight of treatment.  They share personal stories—like the comfort of a stuffed animal during hospital stays or the joy of get...

A cancer diagnosis doesn’t just affect the body—it can shake your career, identity, and entire sense of control. In this episode of the Cancer and Comedy podcast, Dr. Brad Miller and Deb Krier explore why cancer coaching is gaining traction as a meaningful support tool, especially for professionals who are used to being in charge.  They unpack what cancer coaching really is: a focused, one-on...

In this episode of Cancer and Comedy , Dr. Brad Miller sits down with Robin Phoenix Johnson, a retired Army lieutenant colonel turned stand-up comedian and certified humor professional. Robin shares her powerful journey from military leadership to therapeutic humor, driven by personal experiences with caregiving and loss.  Together, they explore the science and soul behind therapeutic humor —...

In this episode, Deb Krier and Dr. Brad Miller discuss the language used to describe cancer experiences, emphasizing the importance of personal terminology. Deb identifies as a warrior and survivor, while Brad prefers "coping" and "impacted." They critique terms like "patient" and "battle," noting individual preferences and the need for respectful language. Deb shares her use of "Arty" for humor,...